We are working with people in science engagement roles to join our network to share learning around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and support widespread change across science engagement.

Key details:

• The network is for people based in science engagement organisation, have experience of running science engagement activities, and are committed to EDI
• There are be three half-day network meetings per year, and a monitoring framework to follow between meetings. 
• The BSA will reimburse all travel and expenses associated with membership
• The BSA will provide each member funding of up to £2,000 per year for them to trial projects, cover staff time, or attend training

Members follow a programme designed to:    

• Build confidence, expertise and leadership around EDI in science engagement 
• Capture EDI learning that can be shared across science engagement contexts
• Build connections between science engagement and other sectors working on EDI
• Create advocates for change within science engagement. 

This group will use an action learning and case-study approach to demonstrate change, and to put structures in place which improve their approach to EDI and make their activities more inclusive.  

This approach is modelled on Tonic Theatre’s Advance Programme and Advance Network, which worked with theatre, dance, and opera companies to identify and address specific diversity-related challenges within their organisations.   

Read about the members

Draft programme 

Members follow a programme of group meetings, training, and internal work, aimed at changing processes, attitudes, and activities. The programme runs over two years, starting in autumn 2019. There are three half-day network meetings per year, and a monitoring framework to follow between meetings.  

The BSA will provide each member funding of up to £2,000 per year for them to trial projects, cover staff time, or attend training. This is in addition to covering all expenses associated with attending network meetings, events, and training.  

Year 1 is designed to share work on organisational change and how to use EDI Action Plans across all areas of science engagement. Network members will create or adapt action plans to embed EDI in their organisation and report on their progress as they carry them out.  

It will involve:  

• Understanding how EDI fits into engagement strategy
• Identifying priority areas and skills gaps around EDI and science engagement
• Building skills, confidence and capability in EDI across all levels of management and leadership.

Year 2 is designed to share work on audience research, and how we use insights on our programmes. Network members will create or adapt research plans and report on how they use audience insights to develop activities.    

It will involve:  

• Defining a research approach/philosophy using EDI principles
• Identifying priority audiences and the evidence needed to support an inclusive engagement strategy
• Adapting or creating a tool for inclusive programme development.

Network members

The BSA ran an open call for network membership in late 2019. We are delighted to announce the details of the selected Network members:

• BIG STEM Communicators Network - Lead: Helen Featherstone, Chair
  
• Science Oxford, The Oxford Trust - Lead: Sophie Batin, Education Outreach Manager
• School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee - Lead: Erin Hardee, Public Engagement Manager
• Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service - Lead: Kathryn Riddington, Collections and Learning Curator
• The Geological Society of London - Lead: George Jameson, D&I Project Lead
• National Coal Mining Museum - Leads: Amy Boothroyd and Sharon Healy, Learning Coordinators
• UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) - Leads: Sharon Leverment, Deputy CEO
• Marine Biological Association- Lead: Eliane Bastos, Membership and Education/Outreach Officer
• Francis Crick Institute - Lead: Rosie Waldron, Head of Public Engagement

Network members are:  

• Based in a UK science engagement organisation who work with public audiences 
• Demonstrably committed to improving EDI in their organisation and sharing their successes and challenges 
• Have the capacity to create change in their organisation - for example, have influence over policies, resources, practices and/or programmes
• When appointing members to the network, we aimed to have a mix of the following: 
  • Locations within the UK
  • Size and resource of organisation
  • Target audience and engagement methods

Members must be prepared to commit to:  

• Attend 3 meetings per year on behalf of their organisation
• Contribute organisational resources to ensure the work carried out by the network is successful 
• Publicly share changes to organisational strategy, policy, or content based on the activities